Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR vs Nikon NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| NikonNIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR | NikonNIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | August 2023 | October 2025 |
| Optics | ||
| Lens type | Zoom | Prime |
| Focal length | 180–600 mm | 35 mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/5.6–6.3 | f/1.7 |
| Minimum aperture | f/32–36 | f/16 |
| Macro lens | – | Yes |
| Optical construction | 25 elements in 17 groups; internal focusing | Eight elements in seven groups; internal focusing |
| Special elements | Six ED elements and one aspherical element | One aspherical ED element |
| Coatings | Fluorine coating on the front element | – |
| Aperture detail | f/5.6–32 at 180 mm; f/6.3–36 at 600 mm. The displayed minimum aperture can vary with the camera's exposure increment | At infinity f/1.7–16; at 0.16 m focus distance f/3.2–22 |
| Diaphragm | Nine rounded blades | Nine rounded blades |
| Angle of view | FX 13°40′–4°10′; DX 9°–2°40′ | DX 44°; Nikon Canada gives 52.5 mm equivalent angle of view in FX format |
| Mount and compatibility | ||
| Mounts | Nikon Z mount | Nikon Z mount |
| Image circle | Full frame | APS-C |
| Compatibility | Native Nikon Z mount; FX/full-frame image circle, also usable on DX cameras | Native Nikon Z mount; designed for DX/APS-C format |
| Teleconverter support | Supports Z TC-1.4× and TC-2.0×; Nikon cautions that autofocus or the electronic rangefinder may struggle depending on conditions | – |
| Focus and stabilisation | ||
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum focus distance | 1.3 m | 0.16 m |
| Maximum magnification | 0.25× | 0.67× |
| Optical stabilisation | Yes | No |
| Autofocus detail | Stepping motor; automatic or manual focusing | Stepping motor; automatic or manual focusing |
| Focus distance detail | Minimum focal-plane distances are 1.3 m at 180 mm, 1.36 m at 200 mm, 1.67 m at 300 mm, 1.94 m at 400 mm, 2.19 m at 500 mm and 2.4 m at 600 mm; limiter selects full range or 6 m–infinity | Minimum 0.16 m measured from the focal plane; UK maker states 7.2 cm working distance from the front of the lens |
| Magnification detail | Nikon publishes maximum 0.25× without separately specifying focal length in its UK table | Actual maximum reproduction ratio 0.67×; Nikon describes this as life-size equivalent in 35 mm/FX format, rather than an actual 1× ratio |
| Stabilisation detail | Optical VR rated at 5.5 stops to CIPA standards with an FX camera, Normal mode and maximum telephoto; CameraLabs achieved around four stops in its handheld Z8 test at 600 mm | No optical VR, as confirmed by both reviews; camera-body stabilisation depends on the body |
| Video features | Quiet focusing, clickless control ring and suppressed focus breathing | Suppressed focus breathing and quiet focusing; silent control ring |
| Design | ||
| Dust and moisture resistant | Yes | Yes |
| Filter diameter | 95 mm | 52 mm |
| Maximum diameter | 110 mm | 70 mm |
| Length | 315.5 mm | 72 mm |
| Weight | 1,955 g | 220 g (better) |
| Controls | Zoom and customisable focus/control rings, four L-Fn buttons, AF/manual switch and focus limiter | Customisable control ring for focus, aperture, exposure compensation or ISO; no physical AF/manual switch, as noted by Amateur Photographer |
| Zoom design | Internal zooming; Nikon states 70° rotation across the range | Internal focusing keeps total length unchanged |
| Filter detail | 95 mm screw-in filters, 1 mm pitch | 52 mm screw-in filters, 0.75 mm pitch |
| Weather resistance | Dust and drip resistance, not guaranteed in all conditions; fluorine front coating eases cleaning | Designed for dust and drip resistance; resistance is not guaranteed under every condition |
| Dimensions detail | Approximately 110 mm maximum diameter × 315.5 mm from mount flange | Approximately 70 mm maximum diameter × 72 mm from mount flange |
| Weight detail | Approximately 1955 g without tripod collar; 2140 g with collar | Approximately 220 g, lens only |
| Tripod mount | Removable collar; CameraLabs confirms two mounting threads and no Arca-Swiss dovetail | – |
| Lens hood | HB-109 included | Optional HN-43, sold separately |
| In the box | LC-95B front cap, LF-N1 rear cap, HB-109 hood and CL-C6 case; removable tripod collar | LC-52B front cap and LF-N1 rear cap |
| Release detail | Nikon USA states August 2023 availability; exact earliest retail day and first UK day unconfirmed, so month precision retained. Nikon describes it as a follow-up to the F-mount 200–500 mm; no cross-mount direct successor link inferred | Nikon Canada states late October 2025 availability; earliest exact retail day and first UK day unconfirmed, so month precision retained |
More comparisons
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR vs Nikon NIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S II
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S II vs Nikon NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 24–105mm f/4–7.1 vs Nikon NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR vs Nikon NIKKOR Z 24–105mm f/4–7.1
- Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G vs Nikon NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7
- Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 24mm f/1.7 vs Nikon NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4 vs Nikon NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7
- Nikon NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7 vs Nikon NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.2 S vs Nikon NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4 vs Nikon NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7
- Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/2.8 VR vs Nikon NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II vs Nikon NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ vs Nikon NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR vs Nikon NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena vs Nikon NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S vs Nikon NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7